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Woman dies at Ottawa rave event, 2nd woman in coma

A 19-year-old woman is dead and a 20-year-old woman is in a coma after police say what is believed to be ecstasy were taken at separate raves in Ottawa over Canada Day weekend.

The raves were large, outdoor organized events in central and east Ottawa between June 29 and July 1, although police did not elaborate.

One of the events is believed to be the Escapade Music Festival, the Sun learned, which drew tens of thousands of people to the Rideau-Carleton Raceway over four days, ending on Canada Day.

Escapade director of marketing/festival promotions Maninder Virk told the Sun Friday evening that he was not aware of any major incidents, such as a medical emergency, at the festival.

“We were never told of any serious events that went on over the weekend,” said Virk. “We haven’t been told by paramedics or police or anybody.”

The woman who died was not from the capital. Police are talking to both families.

Police believe the drugs were bought in Ottawa, but the investigation continues.

How widespread a “bad batch” may have been, or whether the pills may have been laced with something that ramped up their potency is unknown right now.

So far, investigators believe the pills could be ecstasy, or MDMA, which can be a common ingredient used to make ecstasy.

Such synthetic drugs are not uncommon among teens and young adults, at event such as raves.

The 20-year-old remains in an induced coma, and is suffering from liver problems, police say.

The 19-year-old went to a local hospital, but died hours later.

The Sun reached out to the rave community but several people declined to comment.

It is not the first time police have sounded the alarm about deadly drugs.

In early June, two overdose deaths in the Outaouais, following several in Montreal, prompted a warning to IV drug users, about drugs possibly being laced with Fentanyl or extremely pure heroin making the rounds.

Police are joining forces with the regional coroner’s office and Ottawa Public Health to spread public awareness about the dangers of taking such drugs.

In Ottawa in an average year, paramedics respond to about 1, 000 calls related to drug overdoses.

About 40 of them are fatal. The majority of the calls are related to drug addicts.

The latest incidents, say health officials, are unusual. Ecstasy is also not usually the drug common in overdoses.

"Young people always want to experiment," said Dr. Rosamund Lewis, associate medical officer of health. Such risky behaviour, especially if alcohol or other drugs are added to the mix, can be deadly.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Central District Investigations at 613-236-1222613-236-1222, ext. 5166.